Half to john w



(No Model.)

J. E. PRESCOTT.

- AXLE FOR VEHICLES.

No. 383,066.- Patented May 15, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES E. PRESCOTT, OF 'WAYNESBOROUGH, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN W. REYNOLDS, OF SAME PLACE.

AXLE FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,066, dated May 15, 1888.

Application filed December 15, 1387. Serial No. 257,989. (No model.)

To 64% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. Pansoorr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of WVaynesborough, county of Burke, State of 5 Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Axles for Vehicles,of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

: My invention relates to metal axles formed of two end or journal sections and an intermediate section interlocked with each other and secured to a wooden bolster, and which may be readily removed from the bolster and the sec- I tions separated from each other for renewal or repairs.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved interlocking joint between the sections of the metal axle, which may be easily 2o forged into the required shape and will bind one upon the other with increasing strength when subjected to the weight of the load upon the wagon; and the improvement consists in certain constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure lis a perspective of the bolster and the sectional metallic axle placed oneslightlyabove the other; Fig. 2, a perspective of one of the journal-extensions detached; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the sectional metallic axle, showing one of the journal-extensions partly detached from the intermediate section; Fig. 4, a perspective of the key to prevent lateral dislocation of the sections, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the axle and bolster complete.

The metal axle consists, essentially, of anintermediate section, A, and end or journal sec- 0 tions, B and G, the latter being each provided with a journal, D, formed integral with the stub end E, and having at their inner ends a joint-section, F, to match and interlock with a joint-section, G, formed upon the outer ends of the intermediate axle'section.

The joint-section F consists, essentially, of a rounded tongue or jaw,f, at the end of the stub E, a half-lap extension, f, upon the under side of the said stub and adjacent to the saidjawf,

and an ineut beveled shoulder, f overlying the inner end of the half-lap extensionf,

The joint section G upon each of the outer ends of the intermediate section, A, consists of a cup or rounded recess, to receive the jaw f, a half-lap extension, 9', to overlie the extension f, and a beveled end, 9 to fit and project beneath the shoulderf of the stub E.

The axle-sections A, B, and O areinterlocked with each other by engaging one joint with the other, as shown in Fig. 3, and aresecurely held together and held upon a wooden bolster, H, of wellknown construction, by means of metal straps I, fitted with strap-plates I and nuts I. The straps I thus prevent the displacement of thejoint-sections F and G, which match and 6 interlock with each other, as above described, to receive the load without bringing the strain upon the straps I. Thejawf and cup or recess g prevent the end wise displacement of the joints and prevent the joint from being broken or loosened by the weight of the load or by the spreading of the lower portion of the wheels, and the shoulderf overlying the beveled end 9 of the joint sections F and G, resists any strains brought upon the joint by the inward compression of the lower portion of the wheels, such as that caused by running in ruts or upon tracks of narrower gage than the tread of the wagon.

Two straps, I, are preferably employed for each of the joints, to resist the pulling strain upon the axle and the strains caused by obstructions met by the wheels, and such strains are also resisted by keys K, placed to cross the jointsfg andf or by fixed lugs K, interlooking with recesses K at the said joints, as shown in Fig. 2 and at one end of Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Thehalf-lap extensionsf of thejournal-sections are preferably convex, and the matching 9o extensions of the intermediate section are concave, to overlie the extensionf, and thejaw f and recess 9 are in the form of a rounded hookshaped tongue-and-groove extension of the said half-lap surfaces. 5

The axle above described may be easilyforged and shaped into the required form and the sec t-ions then fitted together by unskilled persons.

The intermediate section may be made of iron or soft metal and the journal-extensions made of steel or of a tougher or harder metal than that of which the intermediate section is made.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-.-

1. In a sectional metallic axle, the combination, with the intermediate section having a half-lap extension, 9, and a recess, 9, at the inner end thereof, the j ournal-sections having the half-lap extensionf and a hook-jaw, f, to engage with the recess g, and a bolster secured to the said axle-sections, substantially as described.

2. In a sectional metallic axle, the combination, with the intermediate section having a half-lap extension, 9, a recess, 9, at the inner end thereof, and a beveled outer end, 9 of a journal-section having the half-lap extension 20 f, and a hook-jaw, f, to engage with the recess 9, and an overlying beveled shoulder, f*, to engage with the matching portions of the intermediate section, and a bolster secured to the said intermediate and journal sections, substantially as described.

3. In a sectional metallic axle, the combination, with the intermediate section and journal-sections of said axle, having interlocking half-lap extensions, of the interlocking lug or tongue K upon the shoulders of the one, and the matching-recess K upon the shoulders of the other, joints,to interlock with each other, a bolster, H, and straps I, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. PRESCOTT.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. RAOKLEY, J N0. S. BLOUNT. 

